Mail-crane



(No Model.)

J. H. HARDEN.

MAIL CRANE. No. 322,709. Patented July 21, 1885.

\m, w-Ya JAMES H. HARDEN, OF TOWANDA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-CRANE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,709, dated July 21, 1885.

Application filed .Tune ll, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES H. HARDEN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Towanda, in the county of Bradford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supports for Mail-Bags; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in cranes for holding mail-bags so that they can be readily taken therefrom by means attached to acar; and my invention consists in the construction and combination of the parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

' In the annexed drawing I have illustrated my invention by a vertical sectional View, in which A represents a suitably constructed base, which serves as a support for an upright column. B, which may be either rectangular or otherwise shaped in cross-section. posite sides of the column are provided wit-h openings a, which extend from the base up- .wardly, and near the top of said column openings b are provided. Near the inner side of said openings are located pulleys or rollers c, which extend transversely across the openings b,and are suitably grooved, in which grooves lie the cords O O. A column, B, is provided. centrally with a vertical partition, F, which extends from the lower portion of the base upwardly to a point near the openings 12, said partition dividing the column into two parts. The outer edge of the column is provided,near its central portion, with notches N N, above and below which are attached, by means of hinges H, arms A, the inner ends of said arms being beveled, as shown, so that when the same assume a horizontal position their ends and upper and lower edges will enter the notches, so as to have a firm bearing therein. To the upper arms A are attached flexible connections or cords'G, which pass over the pulleys c, and pass from thence downwardly into one The op-.

(No modelj of the vertical openings in the column, the end of saidcord having attached thereto a sliding weight, W. To this weight and thelower arm is pivotally attached a rod, R, the lower end of which passes through the opening a in the column, after which it is pivotally connected to the weight. The ends of the arms A are provided w1th benthooks P, which pass through the ends of the arms, and are provided with horizontal portions, which are adapted to enter the straps attached to the ends of the mailbag. The pins 1? can turn in the openings in the ends of the arm through which they pass, so that their horizontal projecting portions can be turned in either direction, so that the mail-bag can be removed therefrom by a train going in either direction, and by providing the column with arms on both sides which operate independently of each other the device may be placed between the tracks, so that more than asingle support will be unnecessary.

The operation of my invention is as follows: By either raising the lower arm or depressing the upper one both arms can be brought to a horizontal position, and when in this position the mail-bag can be hung upon the hooks in a position to be removed by the passing train. It will benoted that when the mail-bag is attached to the ends of the arms it will be held there securely without danger of accidental displacement. When the mail-bag is removed by a passing train, the upper arm will immeally connected to the lower arm and weight,

substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a device for supporting mail-bags for the purpose set forth, a hollow support or column having a vertical partition, and pivoted arms attached to the opposite sides thereof, said arms being connected to sliding weights, whereby they will normally assume a vertical position, substantially as shown, and for the pur- 5 pose set forth.

4. In a mail-bag support, a vertical column provided with atransverse partition, Openings a I) through the same, as shown, rollers located opposite the openings 1), and arms A, hinged 10 or pivotally connected to the column and provided with flexible connections 0, attached to a sliding weight, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a mail-bag crane, the combination, 1 5 with the column B, having a vertical partition, 

